It's easy to imagine the presence of those early-day explorers as you travel the Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway and Adventure Road.Along the Byway you will see the place where the expedition unfurled the flag of the United States for the first time west of the Rocky Mountains, laying claim to the Pacific Northwest for the young, expanding country.

At the top of the Byway at Lemhi Pass along the Continental Divide is the Sacajawea Memorial, a place to learn more of this remarkable woman who served as a guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark.

The Byway follows portions of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and provides access to where the explorers reached the headwaters of the Missouri River. You will be treated to spectacular vistas of the river valleys below - the Salmon and the Lemhi - as your vehicle climbs more than 3,000 feet up to the Continental Divide.

The Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway is a result of a cooperative effort of the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, Lemhi County, and the Salmon Valley Chamber of Commerce. The byway is located in Lemhi County, about 20 miles south of Salmon, Idaho. It can be reached by turning east from State Highway 28 at the Tendoy intersection. The roads are single lane, with occasional pullouts for passing. They are a gravel surface which can be driven safely in an automobile. Grades in some areas exceed 5 percent. Roads are maintained by the county and the US Forest Service. Snow usually closes the roads from November until June. The route is groomed in the winter months and is used heavily by snowmobile enthusiasts. The byway is 39 miles long and takes about a half-day drive.

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